Choosing the right mining software is essential for maximizing your Ethereum earnings. While many programs claim to offer the best performance, actual results depend on factors like hashrate accuracy, stability, and how shares are submitted to the pool. This guide presents tested findings to help you make an informed decision.
Why Compare ETH Mining Software?
Mining profitability relies on the number of valid shares submitted to the pool—not the hashrate displayed on your mining software. Many miners debate which tool performs best, but objective testing under controlled conditions offers clearer insights.
Common opinions include claims that T-rex is the fastest, Phoenix overstates hashrate, and lolMiner offers great stability. However, real-world performance can vary based on hardware, drivers, and settings.
This updated comparison uses newer software versions, improved testing methods, and reflects current market conditions to provide relevant results.
Testing Methodology and Conditions
To identify the best-performing Ethereum mining software, we measured the number of shares accepted by the pool over a fixed period. More shares mean higher rewards, regardless of the pool’s payment system.
We used two dedicated rigs:
- NVIDIA rig: 9x GTX 1660 Ti GPUs
- AMD rig: 4x RX 5700 GPUs
Both operated in a custom test pool with share difficulty set to 64M—136 times lower than a typical Ethereum pool. This allowed us to gather sufficient data within 3 hours, equivalent to 17 days of normal mining.
All tests were conducted using the same hardware, overclocking settings, and driver versions to ensure consistency.
Understanding Hashrate Calculations
It’s important to distinguish between two types of hashrate:
- Reported Hashrate: The value displayed by the mining software based on solutions attempted per second.
- Real Hashrate: Calculated by the pool based on shares received and their difficulty.
The real hashrate determines your earnings. For example, if a miner submits 2 shares per second at 64M difficulty, the effective hashrate is 128 MH/s.
Mining software may display inflated values, especially if it includes developer fee periods or calculation inaccuracies.
Best Ethereum Mining Software for NVIDIA GPUs
We tested the following mining tools on the NVIDIA setup:
- GMiner 2.43
- T-Rex 0.19.9
- Ethminer 0.19.0
- lolMiner 1.20
- Phoenix Miner 5.5c
- NBMiner 36.1
Performance Results
GMiner achieved the highest number of accepted shares, followed closely by T-Rex. Both also performed well in previous tests.
Ethminer, the only open-source tool tested, came in third. It doesn’t charge a developer fee, so its reported hashrate closely matched pool calculations.
LolMiner ranked fourth, outperforming Phoenix despite being newer to NVIDIA mining.
Phoenix Miner and NBMiner showed significant gaps between reported and actual hashrates. Phoenix’s “Effective Speed” metric was much closer to real performance, while NBMiner’s results were lower than displayed.
👉 Compare real-time mining performance
Best Ethereum Mining Software for AMD GPUs
We evaluated the following software on the AMD rig:
- Team Red Miner (TRM) 0.8.0
- Phoenix Miner 5.5c
- lolMiner 1.20
- NBMiner 36.1
Performance Results
TeamRedMiner delivered the best performance, with a 5% higher hashrate than the next competitor. Its reported and actual hashrates were nearly identical.
Phoenix Miner and lolMiner performed similarly, with Phoenix again showing a high reported hashrate but accurate effective speed.
NBMiner lagged behind by about 10%. GMiner was not included due to compatibility issues with the test rig’s memory overclocking.
Understanding Confidence and Future Testing
This test collected 50,000 shares per miner, providing a 99% confidence level. Still, mining involves probabilistic processes, and results can vary slightly based on randomness.
For ultra-high accuracy, millions of shares would be needed—requiring weeks or months of testing. By then, software updates could make results outdated.
We recommend using these findings as a reference rather than absolute truth. Performance can differ based on your hardware, overclocking, and setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important metric in Ethereum mining?
The number of valid shares submitted to the pool directly determines earnings. Displayed hashrate in mining software can be misleading—always refer to pool statistics.
Why do some miners show higher hashrate than the pool?
Some software includes developer fee mining intervals in its calculations or uses optimistic estimates. Tools like Phoenix Miner provide an “Effective Speed” metric that better reflects real performance.
Should I avoid mining software with developer fees?
Not necessarily. Software with fees, like GMiner or T-Rex, often deliver higher net earnings even after deductions compared to free alternatives.
Can I use the same mining software for NVIDIA and AMD?
Some tools like lolMiner or Phoenix support both, but dedicated software like TeamRedMiner (for AMD) or T-Rex (for NVIDIA) often optimize better for specific hardware.
How often should I update my mining software?
Regular updates can improve performance, stability, and compatibility. Check every few months or when new versions include meaningful upgrades or bug fixes.
Does overclocking affect mining software performance?
Yes. Overclocking can significantly boost hashrate, but stability is critical. Incorrect settings may cause rejected shares or crashes.
Conclusion
Based on our tests, GMiner and TeamRedMiner currently lead for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, respectively. However, results can vary based on your specific hardware and configuration. Always validate performance with your pool’s statistics and consider trying multiple tools to see what works best for your setup.